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Topic Review (Newest First)

09-24-2013 05:38 PM

tomandchris

Re: New Catalina Yachts

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don0190

maybe it is as simple as:

list price means nothing

While there is always some room to haggle on price, the difference between the big three is not much different in percentage from list to final quote. The difference is in the information above. Catalina has more equipment standard, and the quality of much of it beats the comptetion. You do have to pay for those things, but in most Catalina's they are priced into packages that are add on's in other brands.
At the end of the day Bene will probably total out in the same neighborhood and the Catalina, you just have to decide if they are then equal or not. To each their own.

I am biased as I own a C34. However, when shopping for the boat new, I talked to a lot of dealers in state and at boat shows. The quote that I heard from more than one sales person, that sold both Catalina's and Bene's, was that the Catalina's were "more bullet proof" than the cruising series Bene's. That said, if I was more into racing I would own a 36.7 or 40.7 Bene as they are definetely faster. The cruising Bene's not so much.

09-24-2013 08:40 AM

Don0190

Re: New Catalina Yachts

maybe it is as simple as:

list price means nothing

09-23-2013 11:27 PM

TakeFive

Re: New Catalina Yachts

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yamsailor

My understanding of Catalina joinery work is that it is mostly wood veneer with a little bit of solid wood in areas that get high abrasion.

True, but most of the competitors that you cite have moved to melamine fake woodgrain instead of wood veneer. Many also have vinyl headliners that will degas their plasticizer over time and eventually crack. Some of that vinyl crap can also be found on the walls in the staterooms. I walk through display boats at boat shows (or look at boats I charter) and just scratch my head over this stuff that will look terrible in 10 years.

I'm not saying that this is necessarily enough to justify the price differential, but I do notice the difference when I walk through a Catalina vs. the other price point boats.

09-20-2013 10:07 PM

blt2ski

Re: New Catalina Yachts

Quote:

Originally Posted by djodenda

Exchange rates?

THat should/may not be an issue. As many of the 30-42 or so ft Jeanneau's and Beneteaus are made in SC. BUT< they do ship the cabin pieces from the factory in France to the US to install in the US built models. Simple to do on a pallet etc.

All three frankly are good boats. It boils down to ambiance!

Marty

09-20-2013 03:04 PM

SHNOOL

Re: New Catalina Yachts

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsaronson

There is no comparison. Its like asking why a Hyundai is less than a Buick!

I am not real sure which planet that quote is from, but perhaps you might want to rethink that comparison (and the Hyundai arguably has the better quality rep):
Buick Lacrosse base price $33000
Hyundai Genesis base price $28000

Well she might well make an excellent marketing manager for Catalina... but she just set back Hunter several years!

For the record in quality products, especially luxury items, customers ARE your marketing.

09-20-2013 01:40 PM

Melrna

Re: New Catalina Yachts

I didn't get a Hunter for the reasons I stated above. Plus I didn't want a B&R rig. Hunter severely drop the quality of their build during the recession.

09-20-2013 12:43 PM

Faster

Re: New Catalina Yachts

Mel.. Do I remember correctly that you moved from Hunter to Catalina? Don't want to initiate a Hunter bashing round, but curious about why you didn't stick with them?

09-20-2013 12:10 PM

Cruisingdad

Re: New Catalina Yachts

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yamsailor

Is it me or does it seem the Catalina 315, 355, and 445 seem to be overpriced?

THANK HEAVENS is all I can say.

I have been screaming about this for years. I have had discussions with Catalina about keeping their quality (or improving) versus cutting corners. Compare the joinery, the rigging, the standard equipment, the winches, etc... and you will find it is not apples:apples. I was almost certain that Catalina was going to follow the route of a couple of other builders and cheapen up their boats. ANd quite candidly, they still don't do things that I would like them to do, but they seem to be holding their quality.

My opinions.

Brian

09-20-2013 11:54 AM

tschmidty

Re: New Catalina Yachts

I will second the notion that at the boat show the Catalina just look much better than the Jene or Benetau. Mel can speak to the systems better but the interiors and cockpit just felt like a different level of quality than the french boats. I know if I was looking at a new boat Catalina is the only one of the three I would consider.

09-20-2013 11:31 AM

Yamsailor

Re: New Catalina Yachts

Quote:

Originally Posted by Melrna

As stated I just bought a Catalina 445. I had my choice of any boat out there but choose the Catalina for the way it is made. First let me dispel the price point difference. When you get down to what the standard equipment vs options list on all mass production boats Catalina comes out on top within a few dollars. The french boats are stripped down for the most the part, for example a fuel filter system is NOT included. Materials used is head and shoulders above mass production boats and is almost equivalent to Tartan, Pacific Seacraft and other high end builders. The hull is a 5 part construction vs 2 in other production boats. All the sailing hardware is top draw. The windlass is 3 steps above the cheap Lewmar and oversize. Aluminum toe rail vs some cheap small teak toe rail that won't hold anything going overboard. A real galley Bob Perry would be proud of to include a real freezer and a refrigerator that actually holds something other than a case of coke. A real nav station to work on. A real electrical panel. A place to put other electrical toys in the aux panel. Real storage in all the cabins to cruise in. There are no closets shelves in any of the french boats in the master cabin. Real ventilation hatches throughout the boat. The list goes on and on when you peel away the autistic looks and divulge into all the systems of a big boat. I have visit all the factories. Customer service is the best at Catalina. I have everyone's personal cell phone at the factory including Gerry Douglas if the need should arrive. I don't know any other manufacture that does this. The boat is built in the USA. It is why I choose the Catalina.

Thank you Melrna! That is exactly the type of detail for which I was enquiring!

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